Roof Vent Cage Assembly

ABSTRACT

A roof vent cage assembly includes a first screen that is formed into a cylinder to surround a powered roof vent on a building. The first screen is comprised of a mesh material to inhibit an animal to pass through the first screen. A second screen is coupled to the first screen such that the second screen is positioned over the powered roof vent when the first screen is positioned around the powered roof vent. The second screen is comprised of a mesh material to inhibit an animal from passing through the second screen. A plurality of flange screens is each coupled to and extends outwardly from the first screen to rest on the powered roof vent when the first screen is positioned around the powered roof vent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to cage devices and more particularly pertains toa new screen device for inhibiting animals from entering a buildingthrough a powered roof vent.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to cage devices including a variety of vent hooddevices that includes a screen that is mounted to a wall of a buildingfor covering a vent. The prior art also discloses a vent pipe cover thatincludes a cylinder and a screen that is slidable over a roofpenetrating vent pipe. The prior art discloses a hemispherical roof ventcover that is includes a dome shaped screen for inhibiting animals fromentering a roof vent. In no instance does the prior art disclose acylindrical cage that is positionable beneath a housing of a poweredroof vent.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a first screen that is formed into a cylinder tosurround a powered roof vent on a building. The first screen iscomprised of a mesh material to inhibit an animal to pass through thefirst screen. A second screen is coupled to the first screen such thatthe second screen is positioned over the powered roof vent when thefirst screen is positioned around the powered roof vent. The secondscreen is comprised of a mesh material to inhibit an animal from passingthrough the second screen. A plurality of flange screens is each coupledto and extends outwardly from the first screen to rest on the poweredroof vent when the first screen is positioned around the powered roofvent.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a roof ventcage assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roof vent cage assembly according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new screen device embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the roof vent cage assembly 10generally comprises a first screen 12 that is formed into a cylinderthereby facilitating the first screen 12 to surround a powered roof vent14 on a building 16. The building 16 may be a house or the like and thepowered roof vent 14 may be a powered roof vent of any conventionaldesign. The first screen 12 is comprised of a mesh material, such asgalvanized steel or the like, to inhibit an animal from passing throughthe first screen 12. The first screen 12 has a top edge 18, a bottomedge 20, a first lateral edge 22 and a second lateral edge 24. Moreover,the first screen 12 is bent into a circle such that the first lateraledge 22 abuts the second lateral edge 24.

A plurality of first fasteners 26 is provided and each of the firstfasteners 26 is coupled between the first lateral edge 22 and the secondlateral edge 24 for retaining the first screen 12 in the cylinder. Thefirst fasteners 26 are spaced apart from each other and are distributedbetween the top edge 18 and the bottom edge 20. Each of the firstfasteners 26 may comprise J-clips or other type of permanent fastenerthat is crimped in place with a crimping tool.

A second screen 28 is provided and the second screen 28 is coupled tothe first screen 12. In this way the second screen 28 positioned overthe powered roof vent 14 when the first screen 12 is positioned aroundthe powered roof vent 14. The second screen 28 is comprised of a meshmaterial, such as galvanized steel or the like, to inhibit an animalfrom passing through the second screen 28. The second screen 28 has anouter edge 30 and the outer edge 30 is continuously arcuate about acenter point of the second screen 28 such that the second screen 28 hasa disk shape. The second screen 28 is positioned on the top edge 18 ofthe first screen 12 having the outer edge 30 being aligned with andbeing coextensive with the top edge 18.

A plurality of second fasteners 32 is provided and each of the secondfasteners 32 is coupled between the outer edge 30 of the second screen28 and the top edge 18 of the first screen 12 for retaining the secondscreen 28 on the first screen 12. The second fasteners 32 are spacedapart from each other and are distributed around a full circumference ofthe second screen 28. Each of the second fasteners 32 may comprise hogrings or other type of permanent fastener that is crimped in place witha crimping tool.

A plurality of flange screens 34 is provided and each of the flangescreens 34 is coupled to and extends outwardly from the first screen 12.In this way each of the flange screens 34 rests on the powered roof vent14 when the first screen 12 is positioned around the powered roof vent14. Each of the flange screens 34 has a first edge 36 and a bottom side38, and the first edge 36 of each of the flange screens 34 is attachedto the bottom edge 20 of the first screen 12. The bottom side 38 of eachof the flange screens 34 lies on a plane that is oriented perpendicularto a line extending between the top edge 18 and the bottom edge 20 ofthe first screen 12. Additionally, the flange screens 34 are spacedapart from each other and are distributed around a full circumference ofthe first screen 12.

A plurality of screws 40 is provided and each of the screws 40 isextendable through a respective one of the flange screens 34 and engagesthe powered roof vent 14 for attaching the flange screens 34 to thepowered roof vent 14. Each of the screws 40 may comprise self tappingsheet metal screws or other similar type of screw that is capable ofpenetrating metal. A plurality of washers 42 is included and each of thewashers 42 has a respective one of the screws 40 extended therethrough.Each of the washers 42 is compressed between the respective screw 40 andthe respective flange screen 34 through which the respective screw 40extends such that the washers inhibit the screws 40 from passing throughthe respective flange screen 34. In an alternative embodiment 44 as ismost clearly shown in FIG. 1, the flange screens 34 may be absent fromthe first screen 12. Each of the screws 40 may be extended through thefirst screen 12 to engage the powered roof vent 14.

In use, a housing 46 for the powered roof vent 14 is removed and thefirst screen 12 is positioned around the powered roof vent 14 such thateach of the flange screens 34 lies on an outer ring 48 of the poweredroof vent 14. Each of the screws 40 is extended through the respectiveflange screen 34 for attaching the flange screens 34 to the powered roofvent 14. In this way the first screen 12 and the second screen 28inhibit animals, such as mice, squirrels or other rodents, are inhibitedfrom entering the building 16 through the powered roof vent 14.Moreover, the first screen 12 and the second screen 28 can be attachedto the powered roof vent 14 without penetrating the roof 50 of thebuilding 16 and potentially causing leaks in the roof 50. The housing 46is installed on the powered roof vent 14 thereby inhibiting the firstscreen 12 and the second screen 28 from being visible.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A roof vent cage assembly for inhibiting animals fromentering a powered roof vent on a building, said assembly comprising: afirst screen being formed into a cylinder wherein said first screen isconfigured to surround a powered roof vent on a building, said firstscreen being comprised of a mesh material wherein said first screen isconfigured to inhibit an animal to pass through said first screen; asecond screen being coupled to said first screen wherein said secondscreen is configured be positioned over the powered roof vent when saidfirst screen is positioned around the powered roof vent, said secondscreen being comprised of a mesh material wherein said second screen isconfigured to inhibit an animal from passing through said second screen;and a plurality of flange screens, each of said flange screens beingcoupled to and extending outwardly from said first screen wherein eachof said flange screens is configured to rest on the powered roof ventwhen said first screen is positioned around the powered roof vent. 2.The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said first screen has a topedge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge,said first screen being bent into a circle having said first lateraledge abutting said second lateral edge; and said assembly comprises aplurality of first fasteners, each of said first fasteners being coupledbetween said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge forretaining said first screen in said cylinder, said first fasteners beingspaced apart from each other and being distributed between said top edgeand said bottom edge.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein:said second screen has an outer edge, said outer edge being continuouslyarcuate about a center point of said second screen such that said secondscreen has a disk shape, said second screen being positioned on said topedge of said first screen having said outer edge being aligned with andbeing coextensive with said top edge; and wherein said assemblycomprises a plurality of second fasteners, each of said second fastenersbeing coupled between said outer edge of said second screen and said topedge of said first screen for retaining said second screen on said firstscreen, said second fasteners being spaced apart from each other andbeing distributed around a full circumference of said second screen. 4.The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said flange screenshas a first edge and a bottom side, said first edge of each of saidflange screens being attached to said bottom edge of said first screenhaving said bottom side of each of said flange screens lying on a planebeing oriented perpendicular to a line extending between said top edgeand said bottom edge of said first screen, said flange screens beingspaced apart from each other and being distributed around a fullcircumference of said first screen.
 5. The assembly according to claim1, further comprising a plurality of screws, each of said screws beingextendable through a respective one of said flange screens and engagingthe powered roof vent for attaching said flange screens to the poweredroof vent.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising aplurality of washers, each of said washers having a respective one ofsaid screws being extended therethrough, each of said washers beingcompressed between said respective screw and said respective flangethrough which said respective screw extends such that said washersinhibit said screws from passing through said respective flanges.
 7. Aroof vent cage assembly for inhibiting animals from entering a poweredroof vent on a building, said assembly comprising: a first screen beingformed into a cylinder wherein said first screen is configured tosurround a powered roof vent on a building, said first screen beingcomprised of a mesh material wherein said first screen is configured toinhibit an animal to pass through said first screen, said first screenhaving a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge and a secondlateral edge, said first screen being bent into a circle having saidfirst lateral edge abutting said second lateral edge; a plurality offirst fasteners, each of said first fasteners being coupled between saidfirst lateral edge and said second lateral edge for retaining said firstscreen in said cylinder, said first fasteners being spaced apart fromeach other and being distributed between said top edge and said bottomedge; a second screen being coupled to said first screen wherein saidsecond screen is configured be positioned over the powered roof ventwhen said first screen is positioned around the powered roof vent, saidsecond screen being comprised of a mesh material wherein said secondscreen is configured to inhibit an animal from passing through saidsecond screen, said second screen having an outer edge, said outer edgebeing continuously arcuate about a center point of said second screensuch that said second screen has a disk shape, said second screen beingpositioned on said top edge of said first screen having said outer edgebeing aligned with and being coextensive with said top edge; a pluralityof second fasteners, each of said second fasteners being coupled betweensaid outer edge of said second screen and said top edge of said firstscreen for retaining said second screen on said first screen, saidsecond fasteners being spaced apart from each other and beingdistributed around a full circumference of said second screen; aplurality of flange screens, each of said flange screens being coupledto and extending outwardly from said first screen wherein each of saidflange screens is configured to rest on the powered roof vent when saidfirst screen is positioned around the powered roof vent, each of saidflange screens having a first edge and a bottom side, said first edge ofeach of said flange screens being attached to said bottom edge of saidfirst screen having said bottom side of each of said flange screenslying on a plane being oriented perpendicular to a line extendingbetween said top edge and said bottom edge of said first screen, saidflange screens being spaced apart from each other and being distributedaround a full circumference of said first screen; a plurality of screws,each of said screws being extendable through a respective one of saidflange screens and engaging the powered roof vent for attaching saidflange screens to the powered roof vent; and a plurality of washers,each of said washers having a respective one of said screws beingextended therethrough, each of said washers being compressed betweensaid respective screw and said respective flange through which saidrespective screw extends such that said washers inhibit said screws frompassing through said respective flanges.
 8. A roof vent cage assemblyfor inhibiting animals from entering a powered roof vent on a building,said assembly comprising: a first screen being formed into a cylinderwherein said first screen is configured to surround a powered roof venton a building, said first screen being comprised of a mesh materialwherein said first screen is configured to inhibit an animal to passthrough said first screen, said first screen having a top edge, a bottomedge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said first screenbeing bent into a circle having said first lateral edge abutting saidsecond lateral edge; a plurality of first fasteners, each of said firstfasteners being coupled between said first lateral edge and said secondlateral edge for retaining said first screen in said cylinder, saidfirst fasteners being spaced apart from each other and being distributedbetween said top edge and said bottom edge; a second screen beingcoupled to said first screen wherein said second screen is configured bepositioned over the powered roof vent when said first screen ispositioned around the powered roof vent, said second screen beingcomprised of a mesh material wherein said second screen is configured toinhibit an animal from passing through said second screen, said secondscreen having an outer edge, said outer edge being continuously arcuateabout a center point of said second screen such that said second screenhas a disk shape, said second screen being positioned on said top edgeof said first screen having said outer edge being aligned with and beingcoextensive with said top edge; a plurality of second fasteners, each ofsaid second fasteners being coupled between said outer edge of saidsecond screen and said top edge of said first screen for retaining saidsecond screen on said first screen, said second fasteners being spacedapart from each other and being distributed around a full circumferenceof said second screen; a plurality of screws, each of said screws beingextendable through said first screen and engaging the powered roof ventfor attaching said first screen to the powered roof vent; and aplurality of washers, each of said washers having a respective one ofsaid screws being extended therethrough, each of said washers beingcompressed between said respective screw and said first screen such thatsaid washers inhibit said screws from passing through said first screen.